Top 12 Picnic spots in Northern Ireland

I love a good picnic, especially when it is teamed up with a good outdoor adventure. Besides, when the weather is good? There is no better way to spend time together as a family than packing up a picnic basket and heading off to somewhere gorgeous to enjoy it. Northern Ireland has so many stunning coastlines, beaches, and forests to enjoy a family picnic. We are quite spoiled here on our little island, so we feel very lucky indeed. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you my top 12 picnic spots across Northern Ireland. 

Top 12 Picnic Spots in Northern Ireland

Now we are into the summer months {praying for good weather, as always!} it is officially picnic season! This could be packing a basket full of delicious foods to enjoy or even packing up to cook on a BBQ with views for days. Nothing beats getting the family {or friends} together, all in the same place to catch up over some good food, chat, and endless laughter. So, here are my favourite picnic spots in Northern Ireland.

Downhill Demense – County Derry

We have packed a picnic to enjoy here many, many times. It is a place that we will never bore of visiting and enjoying a sandwich or three. The views are gorgeous, you can bring a ball, a frisbee or like us, a kite! Enjoy the cliff-top views, go for a walk or just lay a blanket, feel the sun on your face {if we’re lucky! It is Northern Ireland after all!} and fill your belly with your delicious picnic basket treats.

You can drive to Downhill Demense and enter via the front gates. Or, like us, get a train from Belfast to Castlerock and walk up through the Black Glen. Enjoy the trees in Downhill Forest before making it up to Downhill. The walk is beautiful and makes you even hungrier to get stuck into that picnic basket of goodies!

Minnowburn – County Down

Minnowburn is a beautiful area to visit if you love going for a walk with the family. Or even just you & your dog! Loads of beautiful horticulture to admire and walks to explore.

Minnowburn is a little tricky to get to if you are a non-driver, like us. But it isn’t impossible. You just need to be good with timing as buses are not frequent around this area. Albeit a beautiful one. However, be aware that due to current Covid guidelines and restrictions, booking in advance is essential to avoid disappointment. Minnowburn is a National Trust site, so having a membership is a big advantage. We pay £10 a month for a family of five.

The facilities available at Minnowburn are:

• Free parking {limited spaces, so do check this before you travel}
• No toilets
• Refreshments are available at the Piccolo Mondo Coffee & Pizza Van
• Picnic tables available at the Terrace Hill Garden
• Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times

Always check their website for any additional information before your travel, or even to plan your day! You can find more information on Things to see & do at Minnowburn on their website.

Giants Causeway – County Antrim

Giants Causeway is a world heritage site and it is easy to see why! It is one of the world’s wonders and such a beautiful place to visit. If you have never been before and are visiting Northern Ireland for the first time? Then Giants Causeway needs to be added to your list.

This is another National Trust site here in Northern Ireland. Once again, it’s so beneficial to be a National Trust member, as a family of 5, we pay £10 a month. During your visit you can do an array of things:

• Enjoy the unique Causeway Clifftop experience
• Go for a walk on the Giants Causeway Blue Trail
• Check out the Giants Causeway Red Trail
• Make a wish on the Giants wishing chair!
• Check out the six must-see sights during your visit!
• Toilets
• Places to eat & drink
• Shuttle buses available from the visitor centre to the columns

There is so much to see and do during your visit and you can even enjoy everything the Giants Causeway Visitor Experience Centre has to offer. As well as enjoying some lunch {or dinner} or even an overnight stay in the beautiful Causeway Hotel. But nothing beats a picnic surrounded by the views of the North Coast, especially at The Giants Causeway!

Craigavon Lakes – County Down

My kids and I stumbled across Craigavon Lakes, completely by accident and it turned out to be of our favourite days! We were invited along for a lovely shopping experience in the Rushmere Shopping Centre and after that, we went to find the perfect spot for a picnic.

And boy did we find it! I shared a post on our afternoon at Craigavon Lakes and it is easy to see why it’s a perfect spot for a picnic. There are no toilets or food outlets because all of that is available just across the bridge at the shopping centre. But it is a beautiful place for a picnic, especially when the sun comes out to shine.

Carnfunnock Country Park – County Antrim

Carnfunnock Country Park is another stunning place, not only to spend the day! But to lay down a blanket, sort the sandwiches out among you all and enjoy a gorgeous family picnic. You really can make a day of it at Carnfunnock as it has everything you need. From a park to play in, a maze to find your way out of, a beautiful area for a family walk and not to mention a cafe and toilets, too.

White Rocks Beach – County Antrim

I think having a picnic on a beach, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea! Especially with all the sand potentially blowing about or getting thrown into other peoples sandwiches! However, White Rocks Beach in Portrush has plenty of little caves and rock shelters to set up your picnic in. And it’ll be in the shade, too! Double win especially on a sunny day!

Crawfordsburn Country Park – County Down

Keeping with the beach theme, Crawfordsburn Country Park is another stellar choice for a picnic location! You have the beach as a picnic area of choice or find a beautiful spot along one of the local rambling routes. Or perhaps the stunning waterfall in among the wooded glens would be more your choice of picnic spot!

The facilities available on site are:

• On-site parking
• Picnic Areas, Tea room & Onsite cafe
• Public toilets

Mourne Coastal Path – County Down

Botanic Gardens, Belfast – County Antrim

The Botanical Gardens in Belfast is a hot spot picnic area of choice, especially in the good weather! People will picnic in their thousands and it’s easy to see why because the area is just beautiful.

Lots of areas to kick a ball about it, there will usually be an ice cream van nearby and there are other facilities available too. Such as:

• Onsite toilets
• A Picnic area, Tea room & onsite Cafe
• Baby changing facilities

Castleward Estate – County Down

Cavehill Country Park – County Antrim

Cavehill Country Park is another great picnic spot! The walk up can take around an hour, maybe more! Depending on your walking speed. There are no picnic tables, toilets or facilities. But who needs those when you can lay a blanket, enjoy some good food and take in that spectacular view over Belfast!

Florence Court – County Fermanagh

Florence House is a stunning 18th-century house & estate located 8 miles South-west of Enniskillen. You can book guided tours around Florence Mansion from June 5th. As well as beautiful gardens to walk around, parklands, and even have a look around the little bookshop that is open daily. This is a National Trust site, so fees do apply unless you are a member.

The Facilities at Florence House are:

• Parkland {open daily}
• Tearoom {Takeaway only}
• Toilets {only open on weekends}
• Second-hand book store {open daily}
• Natural Play Area for the kids
• Mobility scooters can be hired at weekends. Contact them to book directly.
• Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads at all times.

So there you go. 12 fabulous places to enjoy a picnic with friends or family in Northern Ireland. And this is just a small batch of the array of gorgeous places we have here in Northern Ireland to enjoy! The North Coast in particular is electric with stunning places to sit and enjoy a sandwich together.

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